Company Overview

Babalu is a fun, hip restaurant serving up bold flavors using fresh ingredients. And that’s not limited to the food. Our bar offers hand-crafted cocktails that incorporate fresh juices and ingredients that set us apart from our peers. But none of that is possible without a strong team working behind the scenes. Babalu is a fresh concept that inspires fun for staff and guests alike! We truly believe that the happiness of the people who work with us is just as important as the happiness of our guests. At Babalu, we aren't just co-workers; we are family.

Job Summary

As a Babalu Host you will be instrumental in creating a positive atmosphere and preparing our guests to enjoy their time with us. Our ideal Hosts are detail oriented, self-motivated and committed to providing outstanding hospitality. If you're ready for a job you'll love, apply to be a part of our team.
Responsibilities
Greet guests in a friendly and inviting manner as they arrive and bid them farewell as they go
Enthusiastic and effective communication with your teammates
Work in a team-oriented, high-volume, fast-paced, environment to deliver the best dining experience to guests
Take guest information and quote wait times to guests accurately when tables are not immediately available

Qualifications

Prior experience in a full-service restaurant preferred
Ability to work flexible shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays
Demonstrated ability to interact with the public and coworkers in a friendly, enthusiastic and outgoing manner
Possess written and verbal skills for effective communication with guests and coworkers
Ability to stand or walk for an extended period of time
Ability to effectively implement the three Cs: coordination, consolidation, and communication.
Possess organizational and time management skills
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Demonstrate good judgment, problem solving, and decision making skills
Have fun creating a great experience for the guests as well as for yourself and your team!

Benefits/Perks

Opportunity for Advancement
Companywide Food Discounts
Direct Deposit
Qualified Employees:
Insurance Offerings
401K with employer match

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rick Spell and Christy Spell Terry have established both casual and fine dining at nine locations in South Walton and Panama City Beach, Florida, Memphis, Tennessee, and Jackson, Mississippi. Utilizing their business backgrounds, Rick as a managing director at Raymond James and Christy as a corporate accountant with Shelby Group International, have a unique perspective on how to successfully run some of the most popular restaurants along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Rick and Christy first partnered together in 2004, purchasing Brookhaven Pub & Grill in Memphis.

Since then, they have turned Brookhaven into one of the premier sports bars and live music venues in Memphis, and recently completed a renovation which expands and beautifies the already popular patio. The success of Brookhaven led this father/daughter team to grow Spell Restaurant Group after Christy decided to leave her "day job" in 2011 to dive full time into the restaurant business. In 2015, the pair purchased George's at Alys Beach and La Cocina in Seacrest Beach, followed by La Crema Tapas & Chocolate in Rosemary Beach in 2016. In 2017, the group developed its first new concept, opening local breakfast favorite Grits & Grind in Seacrest Beach. Also, in 2017, Rick and Christy purchased Edwards Fine Food & Wine in Rosemary Beach. Each restaurant has been thoughtfully and professionally redesigned and renovated since the Spells have acquired them.

In 2019, The Spells purchased a chain of BABALU® Restaurants located in Memphis, TN, and Jackson, MS. BABALU® restaurants feature Latin-inspired tapas and hand-crafted cocktails in a friendly, comfortable, light-hearted atmosphere. Christy and Rick have been longtime fans of the Memphis locations and were thrilled to add this group of restaurants to their organization.

Both Rick and Christy received degrees in Accounting from The University of Memphis (formerly Memphis State University) and have been heavily involved in numerous Memphis activities. Rick was named Honorary City Councilman in recognition of his “Outstanding Contribution to the City of Memphis.” He is currently a member of the University of Memphis Board of Visitors, former president of the fundraising board for the University of Memphis Athletic Department and is a lifetime Ambassador Club member representing the highest level of financial contributions to the athletic department.

Christy may now be firmly planted on the Emerald Coast with husband Drew Terry and their four pups, but their ties to Memphis and love for the University of Memphis take them back numerous times each fall for Tiger football games. Christy is a longtime member of the Highland Hundred football booster group, as well as a Lifetime Alumni and Ambassador Club member. Since her move to Florida in 2016, Christy has become the face of the Spell restaurants and oversees the daily administration and operations of all restaurants and its nearly four hundred employees.

The continued success and growth of Spell Restaurant Group wouldn’t be possible without the support of their families. Rick has been married to his wife Sandy for over 40 years, and although they reside in Memphis, they regularly visit the Florida restaurants and enjoy their second home in Alys Beach. In April 2018, Christy married Drew Terry, who actively assists with the Spell Group restaurants. When they find some free time, they enjoy traveling, relaxing with friends at the beach or playing with their dogs.

For the Spells, it’s a family affair.

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